Flickr Update: The Commons

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Oct 8 2008

In January 2008, Flickr, the web's largest photo-sharing site, launched The Commons in cooperation with the Library of Congress. The Commons is designed to increase access to publicly-held photography collections housed in museums and archives and to encourage public response to these collections.

The Flickr Blog gives background for some of these collections and the institutions that house them. The photographs have inspired historical projects and research as well as prompting comments from viewers. This mashup, for example, combines historic photographs from the Powerhouse Museum in Australia and Google maps to create "then and now" views of Sydney, Australia.

The Commons offers valuable materials for classroom use—including images to illustrate lesson plans as well as to encourage student analysis, commentary, and online publication.

The content of this website does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.